MOOD BOARD

Another glorious weekend comes to a close! Even though it is to be only a three-day work week before NYC Pride and then vacation commences, that does lighten the blow to getting out of bed just a TAD easier. This weekend found me starting to get packed, picking up last minute bits and bobs for the upcoming jolly, and I attended the wedding of two good friends who tied the knot this here Pride season. They actually got married on the quite in a private affair months ago, just the two them, but decided to have a blow-out reception for family and friends...complete with a band, which Dan himself conducted, and a full on drag show with some queens I hooked them up with...and an open bar the duration of the reception. Most of Dan's family had never seen many gay people let alone a drag queen...so I would say they have come a long way in acceptance. Met a swanky and sassy lesbian who was sat with us...we exchanged numbers of course...and I became "acquainted" with one of the other male guests who happened to being staying at the Lodge where the reception was. I thought it best to stay, and "slumber" never mind I found out his religion!! Could that man wear a suit! And could that man not wear a suit!! The Capital Street Duo wondered where I got too when they left. My phone ringing the next day several times with inquires of questions. I'm sure the queens are talking. but what can I say kids...a handsome man in a very well fitted suit, a light five o clock stubble, a few gin and tonics, the jollity of the events, the feeling of Pride month and the ambient lighting, and my black underwear, all conspired to make for a night of enhancement.  

Happy Gay Pride...

Indeed.

REFLECTING POOL🌈

 The best idea yet all Pride Season!!!!!!

GAY PRIDE-JEAN MALIN

The other night on TCM I finally caught Jean Malin in Arizonia to Broadway in his bit part, but very memorable and entertaining, nonetheless. All these posts for Pride over the years and I can't believe I never once posted about trailblazer Jean, who was a pioneering openly gay entertainer, "Queen of the Panzies" and drag performer during the 1930 and is almost credited with the booming of the infamous Pansy Craze. While he began his early career performing in drag, he became a cultural sensation by emceeing in a tuxedo, using his very flamboyantly queer personality and extreme razor-sharp wit, to shatter gender norms. Although he was six feet and was a bigger boy, with wavy blonde hair to die for, he was effeminate and a female impersonator, and he was known to put hecklers, homophobes and even some mobsters in their place with his wit and at time fists.

Some fun tidbits-

Born Victor Eugene James Malinovsky. He won prizes at the Manhattan drag balls as a teenager and performed in drag as Imogene Wilson in Greenwich Village. As an MC at NYC'S upscale Club Abbey however, he traded dresses for elegant tuxedos. He strolled through audiences, campily interacting with crowds and fiercely defend himself a few times with hecklers and haters. Even tangoed with a few mobsters.

As New York police began cracking down on queer speakeasies, Malin then moved to Los Angeles in 1932, opening his own Club New Yorker. He attempted a film career in 1933 and made three movies, the best being Arizonia to Broadway, where he appeared on screen in drag which was extremely rare for movies then, doing an imitation of Mae West and singing Frankie and Johnny. By this time, he was the highest paid impersonator in the business in the Panzy Craze. Jean continued to sass mobsters and slay audiences with that film and in his routines in his own club, where Malin's out and proud shows drew stars like Clara Bow, Marlene Deitrich, Cary Grant, Gary Cooper, Carole Lombard and Talulah Bankhead. Malin has had self-composed Malin songs like "I'd Rather be Spanish than Mannish." At the height of his fame Jean's life was cut short when in August of 1933, after a farewell performance at the Ship Cafe in Venice CA, he accidentally put his car into reverse and drove off a pier, drowning at age of 25. But no doubt Jean Malin was a trailblazer and he took no prisoners! Fight, Fire and Guts, with no fucks to give

Happy Gay Pride!

PRIDE IS IMPORTANT.....

 I know it may seem like we have made some major strives, and we have, the majority of people don't mind people being gay, most likely know someone gay, have the live and let live motto, and the numbers are slowly growing...but many others, straight and gay see being LGBT as being more accepted so why is Pride still needed??? I saw some these. Is Pride still needed? YES!

And finally...

HAPPY GAY PRIDE!

MESSAGE OF THE DAY

Seen today on Main Street in Mechanicsburg while grabbing a coffee. And how true. I wonder what the fair goers for Jubilee Day tomorrow will think of seeing this? I mean here in this fair hamlet, where a church seems to be on just about every corner. One can't aim a money shot here without hitting a church.

DID SOMEONE SAY LANA?

This French queen who hails for Marseille France a queen of burlesque, Lana Cotta embodies sexy rock and roll universe where glamour, attitude and self-awareness collide, with looks from old glamour Hollywood, burlesque, old vintage pin up and a rock edginess. One never knows what is coming or to expect. At only 22 this Marseille based queen artist deliver a genderfuck drag style that is as daring as it is sensual. Her name- a nod to her Italian roots mixed with the influence of Lana Del Rey-sets the tone immediately. A frequent performer on the European stage and at burlesque festivals, she transforms every performance into a celebration of freedom and body empowerment. A self-proclaimed comedy queen too...Lana Cotta combines self-deprecating humor, glamour and provocation with explosive energy. And from speaking from the point of dabbling a few years in boylesque myself, it is a great feeling to able to showcase a drag and boy side in the same routine. Some men fin a boy bulging in all the right places in a corset a turn on!

BIBLIOMANIA

A couple weekends ago we were in Baltimore for the weekend. It had been years since I'd seen the Peabody Library in the beautiful Mt Vernon neighborhood. The George Peabody Library is widely recognized as one of the most beautiful library spaces but is also an essential space for teaching, reading and doing research. The Library of the Peabody Institute dates from the founding of the Peabody Institute in 1857. It was originally used as an institute for music, but then the Massachusetts born philanthropist George Peabody gave the city and it's citizens the library in appreciation of their "kindness and hospitality." The building in one of many of the Peabody Institute, and this building was opened as a library in 1878 and designed by Baltimore architect Edmund G Lind. The spectacular architecture, glass domed roof 61 feet above the floor, and five tiers of ornamental, cast iron reading rooms and balconies are very dramatic upon entering. If you don't expect it, when you enter, it's enough to take your breath away. A great way to kill a day looking at titles and finding a quiet corner to work or read. The place contains over 400.000 volumes mainly from the 19th century with strengths in religion, British Art, architecture, topography, American history, biography and literature, romance languages and literature, history of science, geography, exploration and travel, fiction and nonfiction, and a huge art section.

One of many card catalogs.

Talk about finding a place to read. And its all in distance of other things to see in the My Vernon neighborhood.

And of course, there is always time for a cock-a-tail. 

An offer I can't refuse!

And don't get me started on all the freindly guys walking in and around John Hopkins, the Peabody Institute and Mt Vernon..... No wonder Divine loved this city so much.